IDEF vs VOO
iShares Defense Industrials and Tech Active ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IDEF or VOO?
VOO has been ahead.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | IDEF | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.3B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 131 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +0.66% | +12.37%Best |
| 1Y Return | +4.38% | +16.61%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.37% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +13.49% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $12,658 | $13,216Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.1% | 37.6%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 19, 2025 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 21, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
IDEF vs VOO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.3 years both funds cover.
IDEF vs VOO Performance
iShares Defense Industrials and Tech Active ETF (IDEF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IDEF returned +4.38% while VOO returned +16.61%. Year to date, IDEF is up 0.66% versus a gain of 12.37% for VOO.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% compared with 12.0% for VOO. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -15.8% for IDEF and -8.9% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IDEF charges 0.55% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IDEF currently yields 0.32% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
28.7% of IDEF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.4% of VOO's money is in holdings IDEF also owns.
IDEF and VOO share little of their money.
19 positions in common, counted across the 130 positions we hold weights for in IDEF and 494 in VOO, against full books of 131 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 468 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IDEF (95.8% of the fund), and 54 for IDEF that do not appear in VOO (15.4%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IDEF | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 3.94% | 0.18% | 3.76% |
| BABoeing Co | 3.62% | 0.26% | 3.36% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 3.20% | 0.15% | 3.05% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 2.30% | 0.58% | 1.72% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 2.72% | 0.11% | 2.61% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 2.32% | 0.44% | 1.88% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 2.31% | 0.31% | 2.00% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 2.19% | 0.42% | 1.77% |
| HWMHowmet Aerospace Inc. | 1.10% | 0.18% | 0.92% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 1.08% | 0.16% | 0.92% |
28.7% of IDEF is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IDEF or VOO?
IDEF has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IDEF or VOO?
Over the past year IDEF returned +4.38% vs +16.61% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IDEF annualized +19.88% vs +23.92% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IDEF or VOO?
IDEF has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 12.0% for VOO. Worst drawdown: IDEF -15.8% vs VOO -8.9%.
Should I hold both IDEF and VOO?
IDEF and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IDEF and VOO?
28.7% of IDEF's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 3.4% of VOO's is in holdings IDEF also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 130 positions we hold weights for in IDEF and 494 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, IDEF or VOO?
IDEF yields 0.32% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VOO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IDEF?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y and the full window. VOO is less concentrated, with 37.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.